What's new

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has launched the Health Foresight online service. Based on past development and possible future scenarios, the service offers forecasts related to population morbidity, functional capacity and work ability limitations as well as the risk factors affecting them, such as lifestyles.

According to recent results of the School Health Promotion study 2025, most children and young people can discuss their personal matters with their parents often or fairly often. Support from adults is needed for health-promoting lifestyles as only a small proportion of children and young people both have breakfast and exercise and sleep enough. Alcohol consumption and smoking have continued to decrease, but there has been a significant increase in the use of nicotine pouches.

Alpha-PVP ("peukku") is increasingly used especially in the vicinity of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. However, regional differences are significant, and its use is strongly concentrated in Southern and Southwest Finland. THL’s recent wastewater study indicates that the amphetamine and cocaine consumption volumes measured in 2024 are also among the highest ever measured in many cities and surroundings.

In morbidity, the latest results of the National Health Index reveal the most significant regional differences in alcohol-related diseases, and in incapacity for work, the differences are greatest in access to vocational rehabilitation.